Is It Possible to Get Strep Throat Without Tonsils?

Strep throat is a highly contagious infection. It causes swelling of the tonsils and the throat, but you can still get it even if you don’t have tonsils. Not having tonsils may reduce the severity of this infection. It may also reduce the number of times you come down with strep.

If you frequently get strep throat, your doctor might recommend removing your tonsils. This procedure is called a tonsillectomy. It can help reduce the number of strep throat cases you get. However, this doesn’t mean that not having tonsils makes you completely immune to strep throat.

Strep throat is a bacterial infection. It’s derived from Streptococcus bacteria. The infection is spread through saliva. You don’t have to directly touch someone with strep throat. It can spread through the air if someone with the infection coughs or sneezes. It can also be spread among common surfaces due to a lack of handwashing.

Having tonsils doesn’t mean you’ll get strep throat, just as not having tonsils doesn’t make you immune to this infection. In both cases, exposure to the strep bacteria puts you at risk.

People who have their tonsils are at an increased risk for more frequent cases of strep throat. This is especially true in children. Not having tonsils could decrease the chances that the bacteria will grow in the throat. Also, your symptoms may not be as severe if you don’t have tonsils.

To diagnose strep throat, your doctor will first look for signs of a bacterial infection inside your mouth. A sore throat accompanied with white or red patches in the throat is likely caused by a bacterial infection and will need further evaluation.

If you have these patches inside your mouth, your doctor may take a swab of a fluid sample from the back of your throat. This is also called a rapid strep testbecause the results are available within 15 minutes.

A positive result means you likely have strep. A negative result means you likely don’t have strep. However, your doctor may send the sample out for further evaluation. At this point, a lab technician looks at the sample under a microscope to see if any bacteria are present.

Strep throat is a bacterial infection, so it must be treated with an antibiotic. You’ll likely start feeling better within 24 hours after beginning treatment. Even if you start seeing an improvement in symptoms after a few days, still take your full antibiotic prescription to prevent any complications. Antibiotics are typically prescribed for 10 days at a time.

Sore throats caused by viral infections resolve on their own with time and rest. Antibiotics can’t treat viral infections.

Frequent strep throat may warrant a tonsillectomy. Your doctor may recommend the procedure if you have strep throat seven times or more within a 12-month period. This doesn’t fully cure or prevent strep throat. Removing the tonsils will likely reduce the number of infections and the severity of the strep symptoms, though.

Strep throat is highly contagious, so prevention is key. Even if you no longer have your tonsils, encountering others with strep throat puts you at risk of catching the infection.

Strep throat is most common in school-aged children, but it can occur in teens and adults, too. You’re at risk if you’re in regular contact with people within close quarters.

It’s important to practice good hygiene and a healthy lifestyle. Doing so can help maintain a healthy immune system. You should:

Wash your hands regularly.

Avoid touching your face.

If you know someone is sick, consider wearing a mask to protect yourself.

Get enough sleep and exercise.

Eat a well-balanced diet.

If you have strep throat, stay home from work or school until your doctor says you’re in the clear. This way, you can help prevent the infection from spreading to others. It may be safe to be around others if you’ve been on an antibiotic andare fever-free for at least 24 hours.

Strep throat is an uncomfortable and highly contagious illness. If you’re thinking about getting a tonsillectomy because of frequent cases of strep throat, talk to your doctor. Removing your tonsils won’t prevent strep throat in the future, but it can help reduce the number of infections you do get.

Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, MD on February 15, 2018 — Written by Kristeen Cherney